Jennifer Lawrence sounds off on exes, marriage, motherhood
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Whether she’s leading an indie film or starring in a top box-office saga, Jennifer Lawrence is one to be watched. We highlight the movie darling’s beginnings and upcoming endeavors. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
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Her performance in “Winter’s Bone” was so riveting, she earned an Oscar nod. And unlike in the film, Lawrence wasn’t afraid to put her good looks on display when she arrived at the 2011 Academy Awards in a figure-hugging red Calvin Klein gown. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tapped Lawrence to reveal the 84th Oscar nominations alongside academy President Tom Sherak. She donned a Prada blue/black eyelet outfit from the spring/summer 2011 collection for the occasion. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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In her first collaboration with a luxury brand, Lawrence was named the new face of French fashion house Dior, replacing actress Mila Kunis. She followed in the fashionable footsteps of Charlize Theron, Marion Cotillard and Natalie Portman. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Her portrayal of Tiffany Maxwell in “Silver Linings Playbook” earned Lawrence her first Oscar for leading actress. As she was called to stage for her win, she took a tumble on the Oscar stairway in her Dior Haute Couture gown - but it seemed to make her all the more lovable. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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When Lawrence attended the 2014 Golden Globes on Jan. 12, she made an impression on the red carpet with a puffy Dior gown (not to mention a photo bomb on Taylor Swift) and on the stage when she took home the supporting actress Golden Globe for her role in the movie “American Hustle.” (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
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The cast of “American Hustle” took home the most important accolade of the evening at the 2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards: the best cast prize. The win marked Lawrence’s second SAG Award after her 2013 lead actor win for “Silver Linings Playbook.” (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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In perhaps one of the most memorable moments of the 2014 Oscars, and certainly the most viral, host Ellen DeGeneres recruited a who’s who of Hollywood, including Lawrence, to snap a Twitter portrait. The pic, retweeted by more than half a million people, knocked Twitter offline for a few moments. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Making it official (for the second time), Lawrence and actor Nicholas Hoult split in August 2013. The pair, who met while filming “X-Men: First Class,” had a difficult time making their relationship work due to their busy, not to mention highly successful, schedules. (Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images; Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Snowlodge)
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What began as a rumor proved to be true after it was confirmed that Lawrence and Coldplay frontman (and Gwyneth Paltrow’s ex) are an item. The new couple have yet to be publicly photographed together. Pictured, Lawrence attends the iHeartRadio Music Festival, in which Martin performed. (Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Clear Channel; Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Clear Channel )
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Come Christmas 2015, Lawrence will star in director David O. Russell’s rag-to-riches tale “Joy,” centered on Miracle Mop inventor Joy Mangano. Lawrence said Russell approached her through a text, and she happily obliged. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images; Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Lawrence, with Evan Peters, suited up to play Mystique a third time in Bryan Singer’s “X-Men: Apocalypse.”
Jennifer Lawrence put her love life front and center in a series of interviews pegged on the opening of her two latest films, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2” this month and David O. Russell’s “Joy” next month.
The 25-year-old opened up about the finale of her blockbuster young adult franchise in an interview with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer, explaining that playing heroine Katniss Everdeen for five years was intertwined with her relationship to her “X-Men” costar Nicholas Hoult, though she didn’t mention him by name.
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Actors Liam Hemsworth, left, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson arrive for the premiere of Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2” at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
(Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)
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Fans take a selfie with Katniss herself, actress Jennifer Lawrence, right, at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2”
(Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images for Samsung)
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Actress Natalie Dormer arrives for the premiere of Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2” at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
(Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)
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Actor Jeffrey Wright, who portrays Beetee, attends the premiere of Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2” in Los Angeles.
(Jason Merritt / Getty Images)
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Actors Wes Chatham, Amandla Stenberg, center, and Patina Miller at the Los Angeles premiere.
(Right, Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images; center and right, Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
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Actor Donald Sutherland, who portrays President Snow, attends the L.A. premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2” at Microsoft Theater.
(Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Actor Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy) at the Los Angeles premiere.
(Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Josh Hutcherson poses for photographers at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2.”
(Jordan Strauss / Invision )
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Jena Malone takes a shot of her own as she arrives at the Los Angeles premiere. She portrays Johanna Mason in the film.
(Jordan Strauss / Invision )
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Mockingjay pins adorned with the colors of the French flag are handed out at Microsoft Theater in a reference to the Paris terrorist attacks.
(Jordan Strauss / Invision )
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“Hunger Games” actors Stef Dawson (Annie), from left, Wes Chatham (Castor) and Elizabeth Banks (Effie) at the L.A. premiere.
(Right - Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Left and center - Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)
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Willow Shields, who plays Prim in the “Hunger Games” films, arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2.”
(Jordan Strauss / Invision )
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Actors Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks arrive for the Los Angeles premiere of the latest “Hunger Games” film.
(Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)
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Jennifer Lawrence steps onto the red carpet for the Los Angeles premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2.”
(Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)
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The red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2” at Microsoft Theater.
(Jordan Strauss / Invision )
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Producer Jon Kilik, left, actor Liam Hemsworth, actress Jennifer Lawrence, actor Josh Hutcherson, producer Nina Jacobson and director Francis Lawrence pose at a red carpet event for the movie “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2” in Beijing.
(Mark Schiefelbein / Associated Press)
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Chinese fans try to get autographs from Jennifer Lawrence.
(Mark Schiefelbein / Associated Press)
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Director Francis Lawrence, right, poses with Chinese fans.
(Mark Schiefelbein / Associated Press)
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Australian actor Liam Hemsworth, right, poses for a selfie in Beijing.
(Mark Schiefelbein / Associated Press)
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Jena Malone; Kim Ormiston, center left, and Misty Ormiston; and Sam Claflin attend the L.A. premiere of their film.
(Left and center - Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images; right - Mark Davis/Getty Images)
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Liam Hemsworth and Jennifer Lawrence pose during the photocall in Madrid.
(Sergio Barrenechea / EPA)
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Jon Kilik, left, Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson
(Sergio Barrenechea / EPA)
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Liam Hemsworth, left, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson in Madrid.
(Abraham Caro Marin / Associated Press)
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Director Francis Lawrence, left, Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik at the Kinepolis Cinema in Madrid.
(Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images)
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Actors Liam Hemsworth walks ahead as Jennifer Lawrence cautions Josh Hutcherson to not step on her dress after having fallen once at the Madrid premiere.
(Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images)
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Jennifer Lawrence attends the world premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2” in Berlin.
(Michael Sohn / Associated Press)
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Willow Shields, from left, Sam Claflin and Julianne Moore attend the world premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2” in Berlin.
(Michael Sohn / Associated Press)
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Elizabeth Banks, who portrays Effie Trinket in the “Hunger Games” movies, at the Berlin premiere on Wednesday.
(Michael Sohn / Associated Press)
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Stanley Tucci, Jena Malone, center, and Natalie Dormer attend the premiere.
(Left and center - Michael Sohn / Associated Press; right - Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
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Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark) at the world premiere in Berlin.
(Michael Sohn / Associated Press)
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The cast and crew pose for a selfie Thursday upon arrival at the London premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.”
(Joel Ryan / Invision)
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Natalie Dormer, from left, Julianne Moore and Tallia Storm at the British premiere in London.
(Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
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Woody Harrelson mugs in front of costars Gwendoline Christie, from left, Natalie Dormer, Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Banks and Julianne Moore in London.
(Joel Ryan / Invision)
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Jennifer Lawrence embraces a guest on her arrival Monday at the Paris premiere of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.”
(Jacques Brinon / Associated Press)
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Liam Hemsworth, left, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson at the Paris premiere of the final “Hunger Games” film.
(Jacques Brinon / Associated Press)
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Liam Hemsworth, from left, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson and director Francis Lawrence pose at the Paris premiere.
(Jacques Brinon / Associated Press)
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Jennifer Lawrence on the red carpet at the Paris premiere, held Monday at the Grand Rex theater.
(Thomas Samson / AFP/Getty Images)
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Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy) poses on the Paris red carpet.
(Thomas Samson / AFP/Getty Images)
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Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorn) on the red carpet at the Paris premiere.
(Thomas Samson / AFP/Getty Images)
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What face would Katniss make? The many looks of Jennifer Lawrence from the Paris premiere of the “Hunger Games” finale.
(Jacques Brinon / Associated Press)
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A Paris photo call for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2” draws Woody Harrelson (left, in pajama pants and socks), Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and director Francis Lawrence.
(Bertrand Guay / AFP/Getty Images)
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The forthright Oscar winner, whose action film opens Nov. 20, told Sawyer that she nearly turned down the role because she feared the effect of superstardom.
“These movies had been my life for so long and they had to come first in everything,” Lawrence said in an interview that airs Thursday night. “I was also in a relationship with somebody for five years and that was my life. So my life was this person and these movies and we broke up around the same time that I wrapped those movies.”
She continued: “Being 24 [years old] was this whole year of ‘Who am I without these movies? Who am I without this man?’ It was always ‘we.’ It sounds so young to say that but it’s true.”
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Lawrence and Hoult were together on and off until the summer of 2014, when they appeared to call things off for good. That’s about the time she wrapped filming the two-part finale of the Lionsgate franchise. Perhaps marriage was in the cards for them, but Lawrence said tying the knot isn’t really her top priority.
“I don’t really plan on getting married. I might. I definitely want to be a mother. I don’t really imagine getting married anymore,” she said. “I don’t feel like I need anything to complete me. I love meeting people, men, women, whatever, I love people coming into your life and bringing something.”
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Lawrence appeared to sing a slightly different tune in her interview with Vogue, whose coveted December cover she graces.
“I can’t wait to be married,” she told the magazine. “I feel like if I find that one person who I want to spend the rest of my life with, who I want to be the father of my children, that I would absolutely not [expletive] it up ... But I’m also not banking on that.”
After Hoult, Lawrence started dating Coldplay rocker Chris Martin and appeared to open up about that relationship in the fashion codex.
Again not naming names, the actress opened up to the magazine about dating someone she described as “sexy.”
“But I didn’t like how he made me feel. When someone makes you insecure, it’s strangely exhilarating because you keep trying to fight for that validation,” she said. “It’s what you want to have before you get married, so that you don’t seek it out once you are.”
It’s unclear if she was talking about Martin or someone else. She and the musician broke up after about a year of dating and the actress said she’s been spending more time on her own in recent months.
“No one ever asks me out,” she told the magazine. “I am lonely every Saturday night. Guys are so mean to me. I know where it’s coming from, I know they’re trying to establish dominance, but it hurts my feelings. I’m just a girl who wants you to be nice to me. I am straight as an arrow. I feel like I need to meet a guy, with all due respect, who has been living in Baghdad for five years who has no idea who I am.”
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The unfiltered star, who is reportedly the industry’s top-paid actress, established a bit of dominance of her own last month when she penned an essay about the wage gap in Hollywood -- an iconoclastic statement that was met with a surprising amount of backlash, she said.
“What I was trying to say is that we’re not victims,” Lawrence said of her fellow underpaid actresses. “I am holding my own self back. The men aren’t to be blamed for asking for more and getting it.”
Nardine Saad covers breaking entertainment news, trending culture topics, celebrities and their kin for the Fast Break Desk at the Los Angeles Times. She joined The Times in 2010 as a MetPro trainee and has reported from homicide scenes, flooded canyons, red carpet premieres and award shows.